The Portland daily press., 1887-11-18
thus we'll fitted for the task he has under


taken.
Sir Charles is an elderly gentleman with
scant gray whiskers and courteous though
dignifed manners. Like Mr.. Chamberlain
he submitted to the ''custom of the country
with good grace, saying that he thought a
frank statement of what was desired as
sisted in bringing about a cordial under
standing between. the two committees, but
his answer to the first question revealed the
diplOmatiSt
sMany Canadians are clamoring for COM
mercial union. Is that the form of settle
ment most desired by them?" asked the re-
porter.
"That is question upon which would
rather not express any opinion" replied Sir
Charles, "You know that diplomacy has
been represented by statue with the finger
on the lip. 1t is not a very wise procedure
for persons who are about to engage In dis
cussions of the kind that will be submitted
to us to say very much in advance. This
much / can say safely. There is very
widespread desire in Canada fol closer com
mercial union with the United States than
exists at present. They are anxious for re-
newal of those friendly commercial relations
which have been found productive OF dement,
to both countries
SIS the commercial union that the Cana
dian people. desire correctly interpreted as
free trader"
Il do not think that there has been any
expression of opinion on the part OF any
considerable number of the Canadian people
that can be regarded as favoring unrestric-
ted commercial reciprocity"
SIS it within the power of the commission
to adopt some scheme of commercial union r
II think it is open to the commission to
make any suggestions of any kind that are
calculated to remove existing difficulties.
ssDo You understand that the commission
is to settle the dispute by arbitration or by
negotiating treaty."
until after there has been a meeting Of the
commissioners on both sides. 1t is not
matter of any great moment what particular
name is given to the action OF the joint com
mission. The object, of course, that Is
aimed at is an arrangement that shall be, If
possible, satisfactory to the government OF
Great Britain and Canada and the United
States"
ssIs it true, as represented by some Cana
dian papers, that Mr.. Chamberlain's appoint
ment is not fayorably regarded there?"
at is not at ali correct; Mr.. Chamber
lain's appointment is quite satisfactory to
the government of Canada and to large
majority of the representatives IN Parlla-
ment. Talk to the contrary comes from Op-
position papers"
at is thought by some people here that
Canada wants to get too much and concede
too little. Is that true?"
II have very different impression. Can
ada would regard with great favor any fair
settlement that would dispose OF and setat
rest any questions that are disturbing the
public mind in relation to intercourse be-
tween Canada and the United States. The
spirit in which Canada has approached ana
dealt with this question, | think, may be
fairly gathered from her conduct in the pass.
In the first place, under the treaty OF 1924,
the United States enjoyed the free use of the
fisheries Of Canada in the same manner as
the people Of British North America. I'm
der that treaty, a large number OF articles
and produce of the sea, the forest, the mines
tween the two countries, and that treaty was
abrogated by the United States, although 1t
rapid rap extension Of trade between
the two countries, in which the
balance was largely IN favor oI s, me
we adopted on our side provision by which
the duties that were brought into operation
by the abrogation of the treaty could be les.
sened or altogether removed by an order Oh
the Council and Governor-General whenever
the United States lowered or removed the
duties on the articles included in the treaty
This was standing invitation to this coun-
try to renew the free interchange OF the nat
ural products of the two countries When
the treaty of WashingtOn--that of 1872
was abrogated again BY the action of the
United States, Canada allowed the United
States the free use of the fisheries without
any compensation, the same as though the
treaty were in force, without being per-
mitted herself to enter her fish free as before
under the treaty, in consideration OF the
proposal of the government of the United
States to submit to the Senate the appoint
ment of a commission to, provide, If possible,
for the settlement OF the question. Ihis
shows that there has been no undue asser.-
tion of Canadian interests or any grasplng at
undue advantages ON the part of Canada.
.'The commission is not confined to the
fisheries question"
"We are not necessarily confined to. the
fisheries question. / hold that our object
should be the disposal of all the. questions
that have arisen in connection with the fish
cries or any other subject between the
United States and Canada"
AFTER its adoption by the commission
what steps have to be taken by your side to
make effective any treaty or other arrange
ment?"
sit would have to be sanctioned by the
House of Commons in England, by the
House of Commons and Senate in Canada,
and the Legislature of Newfoundland."
'And if one of those bodies refuses to
sanction it?"
ssThen ii cannot become operative"